Add the -enabledeveloperconsole command line parameter to end of the "Target" field in the "Shortcut" properties that are used to launch the game. Press ~ during game play to display the console window. Enter one of the following codes to activate the corresponding cheat function. Note: You will not see what is being typed and you may need to press [Backspace] to remove the "`" character if it is present in the console window.

For the Steam version of the game, in the "My Games" Steam tab, Right Click "Dragon Age: Origins" and select "Properties". In the General tab, select "Set launch options", then enter -enabledeveloperconsole in that field. Press ~ during game play to display the console window. Enter one of the following codes to activate the corresponding cheat function. Note: You will not see what is being typed and you may need to press [Backspace] to remove the "`" character if it is present in the console window.

To get more experience points earlier in the game, as soon as you leave Lothering, go to the city of Denerim. Once there, you will find a building named "Wonders of Thedas". Go inside it and purchase the Archivist's Belt. As long as it is equipped, you will get an experience point boost for everything in your Codex. Books will increase from 50 experience points to 75 experience points.

Save the game, then purchase a Specialization Book from a vendor. The message "Specialization Unlocked" will appear. Load your saved game file. You will have regained the gold you spent for the book, but the specialization will still be unlocked.

Use the following trick to get some items and gifts before you leave the castle. When playing as a human noble, after you go to your brother Fergus' room but before you leave, to go to bed ask your dog "Do you see anything interesting?". If he brings nothing back, ask him again. By doing this you will obtain the following items:

Piece of wood, which is a tier 4 mage staff that has a +1 Constitution and +10% Nature Resistance.
Found cake.
Dirty pair of pantaloons.
Tangled ball of yarn
Bottle of Garbolg's backcountry reserve.
Greenstone or elfroot.
Unique but seemingly useless Codex entry.

Sometimes your party might not care for you or bluntly tells you that they could be off better somewhere else. This can be changed easily. Each item that has "Gift" beside it can be given to a party member. You cannot give one to your own character. For example, some of the demon things that you get in your travels (like the totem or demon statue) can be given to Sten. You will get at least a 5+ approval. Each item varies from person to person. Some are meant more for others. You must learn which item fits what person.

How you choose to talk to a character can determine approval ratings. Some are minor changes, but still will be closer to the liking side or disgusted side however you so choose. The hardest two that you can speak to are Sten and Morhgan. Keep in mind that they can be persuaded. Sometimes the correct words can lead to a loving moment and others to a long argument or a discussion especially for learning about them. That is what takes the longest time. The only one you really never have to worry about is the Mabari of the group, or the dog in most cases. It will love you no matter what and will stay loyal to the end. Give it a treat for being such a good loyal character.

This has only been tested on the original release. A "sacrificial" stat is required -- one you don't need (for a Mage that would be Strength; for a Warrior or Rogue, Magic works). Head to the level up screen and put all of your points into the sacrificial stat. Click Next, then click Previous and then hit Reset. Manually remove the points to the sacrificial stat. You should now have 6 points rather then the 3 you put in. Choose Next a few times and then choose Play to save the changes made. Repeat this process. When the stat turns negative the game will regard it as 0 but you will still be getting points for it. However, in order to bring the stat back up you must put the amount you took from it back in, which is why the stat is "sacrificial." The most you can put in at a time is 100 points.

During the Tainted Blood mission in Ostargar, collect the three Vials of Darkspawn Blood but avoid collecting the Grey Warden Treaties. After you have the vials, talk to Duncan and choose the conversation option "We have the blood, but not the scrolls." The conversation will end and you'll get experience! You can repeat the conversation and get the experience each time -- you can do this all the way up to the level cap at 25 (if you are patient)! You can click through the conversation fairly quickly once you've done it a few times.

You can find a book in the Orzammar underground section "The Dead Trenches", near the "Legionnaire Shrine" at the end of a broken bridge. The book is called "Load Limit Reached". The first line reads "'Mass will have an effect," he says. It mentions a Dwarf named Shepard, the same name as the main character of Mass Effect.

Upon arriving at Ostagar, purchase the Backpack from the Quartermaster. Note: You should have enough money if you collected sell-able items and gear from the beginning storyline. Complete the quest where you and the other recruits enter into the Wilds. Note: Make sure you explore the entire map. Complete the "Joining" ritual and become a Grey Warden. Before going to attend the meeting with Duncan and the King, return to the Quartermaster. There should be another Backpack available at the same price as earlier.

Note: You must have Sten in your party for this to work. At the end of the game, if you choose to perform the ritual with Morrigan, you will go to the crowning of the new king or queen. After the dialogue with Alistair you can walk around and speak with your companions. Find Sten and he will say "Where is the cake? They promised there would be cake. The cake is a lie..."

Eventually once you reach Redcliffe, there will be an option to enter the boy, aside from killing him and confronting the demon inside of the boy. Do not kill the boy. You will not gain much from his death and most likely your allies will disapprove. Instead, choose the option to enter the boy and let the Blood Mage do his ritual. Once you are inside, talk to the father. Once this is done, you must talk to the child "Possessed" and kill the demon inside him multiple times. Once you reach a certain part where you do not talk to the child, but the demon straightforward, try to converse with her. Conversing with her will get you more than just killing her. She will request that in exchange for her life, and the permission to enter the boy's body again in the near future, she will offer you gifts. One is a new specialization. Another is a certain rare item, armor, or weapon. Finally, is pleasure. Pleasure should not be an option, as it does not give you anything in exchange, not even an intimate scene. Select either the item or the specialization. However if you truly do not want to obtain anything useful, kill her. Killing her alone results in the same experience you would get from killing the boy, not to mention the previous times you have also killed her.

By using this trick, when your character gains a level you can redistribute already spent ability points. Spend all ability points on the stat you want to reduce Use the "Reset" button. Go to the stat which you added the points to, and you can now reduce the number of points in the stat by 3 (the number of points you spent in it before hitting reset). These extra stat points will be added to your available points and can be spent on any ability. There are a few restrictions. This can only be done once per level, you cannot reduce the stat by more points than you spent in it, and you must spend the points in only one stat.

Rogue
Assassin: Learn from Zevran (companion) when approval is high enough; or bought from Alarith's Store (Denerim, after Landsmeet starts).
Bard: Learn from Leliana (companion) when approval is high enough; or Alimar (Orzammar).
Duelist: Learn from Isabela (The Pearl in Denerim) if your DEX is high enough to catch her cheating and make her teach you.
Ranger: Learn from Bodann's Wares (Party Camp).

Mage
Arcane Warrior: In the "Nature of the Beast" quest line, you will find a place in Brecilian Ruins where a spirit is trapped inside something. Set the spirit free and ask it to teach you the specialization.
Blood Mage: In "Arl of Redcliffe" quest line, choose to go into the Fade. Instead of killing the Desire Demon, negotiate with her. When given a reward, choose to learn Blood Magic.
Shapeshifter: Learn from Morrigan (companion) when approval is high enough; or Varathorn (Dalish Camp).
Spirit Healer: Learn from Wynne (companion); or manual from Wanders of Thedas in Denerim (after Landsmeet starts).

Warrior
Berserker: Learn from Oghren (companion) when approval is high enough; or manual bought from Gorim at Denerim Market.
Champion: Choose to accept reward form Arl Eamon after completing the "Sacred Urn Of Ashes" quest line.
Reaver: Meet with Kolgrim in the Wyrmling Lair just before the mountain top and help him with his task. Pour dragon's blood on the ashes. Note: If Wynne and Leliana are in your party they will join the Guardian in their fight against you.
Templar: Learn from Alistair (companion) when approval is high enough; or Bodahn's Wares (Party Camp).

Rouges that have the Ranger talent and have all skills can summon a wolf and a bear at the same time. This trick does not work with the spider. When you are summoning the wolf and you cast time bar is almost over, click to summon the bear. Your character will summon the wolf first, then summon the bear. You can control both animals.

The following is a random event that happens while traveling on the world map. You will encounter a farmer and his wife who find a baby in a meteor crash, just after it happens. They decide to take the baby and raise it as their own. You will get the Meteor Ore that the baby came in. It can be made into armor by Wade in Denerim. Your best chance of getting this event is from one of the Chantry Board mission in Redcliffe. Travel straight from Redcliffe to Refugees.

In the origins stories, be sure to remove all the items of those that accompany you (and leave your party) prior to their departure. You may need to save the gaem more often. You can use these items to sell or equip as needed.

Another example: once you return from the Kokori Wilds, before talking to Duncan, remove all the equipment from Jory and Daveth since they are destined to die.

In Ostargar, there is a mission called "Tainted Blood" that takes place immediately before you become a Grey Warden. Collect the three Vials of Darkspawn Blood but not the Grey Warden Treaties. Return to camp, talk to Duncan, and report "We have the blood, but not the scrolls." This will exit out of the conversation, but will give you the experience for the mission. Repeat those steps until you are at the desired level. It takes very little time to reach the maximum of level 25 skip the conversations and speed up the process.